While the general public might be surprised at such discrimination in this era of consumer protection, Quilligan says blind people suffer such treatment daily. He and his dog, Umali, have been shown the door at restaurants, shops, even gymnasiums.

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With an earlier dog, Fletch, Quilligan says he was approaching a taxi at Fountaingate shopping centre when a woman called out: ''Watch out!'' The driver threw a can of Coke at him, saying: ''Don't get in here.''

The can hit the dog and Quilligan said he reached in the window and grabbed the cabbie by the collar. ''But he had his seatbelt on and I realised I was choking him.''

Even the chief of Vision Australia, Dr Kevin Murfitt, felt the cold shoulder of the taxi industry when he and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia boss Leigh Garwood approached the cab rank at the top of Collins Street last week.

''Kevin had his dog Kane with him and when I opened a door on the front cab the driver said he had just knocked off and drove away,'' Garwood said.

''Then the four other cabs in the rank drove off too.''

Quilligan says part of the problem arises through older male Muslim drivers who believe the Koran declares dogs are unclean and diseased.

''The younger Muslims are fine with it,'' he said. ''They say this is just stupid mentality of the older people.''

Taxi Services Commissioner Graeme Samuel, whose commission has replaced the VTD, said religion was no excuse. ''You obey the law or you don't drive a cab,'' he said. ''A driver cannot refuse a visually impaired passenger with a dog.''

Samuel said there were raised numbers near the handles on taxi doors now so blind passengers can identify a vehicle if necessary.

Quilligan, 56, was aged 47 when he lost his sight. He had been running a photocopier business - suddenly, he was marooned at home with just 3 per cent vision in one eye. ''I was pretty angry until a mate rang up and said: 'It's only your eyesight, get over it.' He was dead right. Six months later I was a director of the East Burwood Football Club.'' Now he works at a transport company in Vermont.

Quilligan, who has three children, credits his wife of 27 years, Colleen, with helping him through his ordeal. Since going blind he has had a kidney transplant and open-heart surgery.

It costs about $30,000, and takes two years, to train a guide dog. About 800 blind Australians are using animals from Guide Dogs Australia and 300 from Seeing Eye Dogs Australia. A Guide Dog Awareness Week will be held from April 27 to May 3 and John Quilligan says many people still need to learn the proper etiquette.

''I don't think kids are taught about seeing-eye dogs any more,'' he said. ''People just walk up and pat them. You can only do that when the blind person puts down the lead and harness so the dog knows it's not at work. My dog is my left and right arm - and everything else.''